Maud's Paphiopedilum Paphiopedilum Maudiae gx

Water

Lady Slipper Orchids, the common name for Paphiopedilum Maudiae, should be watered regularly to keep the potting mix evenly moist but not waterlogged. Typically, watering once a week is sufficient, but this can vary depending on the humidity and temperature of your growing environment. It's important to water with about one cup (8 ounces) of water when the top inch of the potting medium feels dry to the touch. Avoid letting the plant sit in water, as this can lead to root rot. During the dormant period, usually in winter, reduce watering frequency.

Light

Lady Slipper Orchids thrive in moderate light conditions without direct sunlight. Bright, indirect light is best, so a spot near a north or east-facing window would be ideal. They can also be grown under fluorescent lighting, making them suitable for locations that don't receive a lot of natural light. Avoid placing them in direct sun as it can burn the foliage.

Temperature

Lady Slipper Orchids prefer temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and a slight drop to 50-65 degrees Fahrenheit at night. These orchids can tolerate a minimum temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but they should not be exposed to temperatures below this, as it could damage the plant. The ideal temperature range supports healthy growth and bloom.

Pruning

Lady Slipper Orchids do not require extensive pruning, but it's beneficial to remove yellowing or dead foliage to maintain the plant's health and appearance. Pruning can be done at any time of year as needed. After the flower has faded, the flower stems can be cut back to the base to encourage new growth. Pruning should be done with sterilized scissors or pruning shears to prevent the spread of disease.

Cleaning

As needed

Soil

Lady Slipper Orchid thrives in a soil mix containing bark, perlite, and charcoal, with good drainage and aeration properties. The preferred soil pH for this orchid is slightly acidic to neutral, ranging from 5.5 to 7.0.

Repotting

Lady Slipper Orchids should be repotted every one to two years, ideally during the spring after the blooming season when the plant starts producing new growth.

Humidity & Misting

Lady Slipper Orchid requires high humidity levels, ideally between 40% and 70%, to thrive and maintain healthy growth.

Suitable locations

• Indoor

  Keep in moderate light, high humidity, and avoid direct sun.

• Outdoor

  Shelter from direct sun; provide dappled shade and humidity.

• Hardiness zone

  9-12 USDA

Life cycle

The Paphiopedilum Maudiae, commonly known as "Lady's Slipper Orchid," begins its life as a seed, which is tiny, dust-like, and requires a symbiotic relationship with a mycorrhizal fungus to germinate. Once germinated, it develops into a protocorm, a primitive plant form that eventually grows into a young orchid plant. This juvenile stage involves the development of leaves and a root system, during which the plant focuses on gathering energy through photosynthesis and slowly matures. The plant reaches maturity and enters its reproductive phase after several years, producing distinctive slipper-shaped flowers that can emerge from a central spike and may last for several weeks. After pollination, which is often facilitated by insects attracted to the flower, the plant produces a seed capsule containing numerous seeds, thus continuing the reproductive cycle. During its life, the Paphiopedilum Maudiae goes through periods of growth and dormancy, typically with growth in the warmer months and dormancy in the cooler season, requiring particular attention to watering and light during these stages to maintain health and encourage blooming.

Propogation

• Propogation time

  Spring-Early Summer

• Paphiopedilum Maudiae, commonly known as Maudiae Paph or Lady Slipper Orchid, can be propagated by dividing the plant during repotting, usually done in spring or autumn when the plant is not in active growth. The most popular method of propagation is division, which involves carefully separating the plant's offsets, which are the small plantlets or shoot clumps that develop at the base of the parent plant. To do this, remove the orchid from its pot and gently tease apart the roots to find natural divisions where the plant can be separated. Each division should have at least three healthy roots and one growth point to ensure it can grow into a successful new plant. Once separated, pot each division in its own container with appropriate orchid potting mix and maintain a humid environment with indirect light to encourage growth.